What is tzizit? Why I am glad you asked. These are fringes applied to the four corners/boundaries of the garment we wear to cover ourselves. Tradition evolved into a commandment of Tallit so today when someone talks about wearing a tzitzit they are most likely talking about wearing a Tallit with tzitzit attached permanently to it.Where does this practice come from? It is a mitzvah, a commandment from G-d: Numbers 15:38-40 'Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generations fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue. And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye go not about after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go astray; that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God. This is a reminder of our live to G-d and His ways are our ways. While we are out in town our tzitzit remind us that we are of the realm of holiness. Is it only for men as certain people say? Is holiness only for men? Why should women not participate in this beautiful mitzvah? I am not political nor do I consider myself a Reform Jew but I do think that anyone whether male or female but a child of Israel should perform this mitzvah. The word children in Numbers 15:38 is H1121 - בּן, bên which includes both male and female children; a son or a daughter. We can compare this word's usage in another verse to ensure correct understanding. If we look at Genesis 3:16 it says, "Unto the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' " Here too the same word בּן, bên is used and of course we know that she was not destined to only have pain in childbirth of male infants. Rabbis express concern that women want to wear men's clothing which of course is against the Torah and I agree with that point. Just as I do not support women wearing the Kippah/Yalmuka because it is a male head covering I feel it is not right for women to wear men's garments. If a woman wants to cover her hair let her wear a hat or a scarf or other lady-like head covering. However, women should not be limited to not wear tzitzit just because men traditionally wear them. The other concern I have regarding the tradition of tzitzit is that it has evolved into wearing it on a tallit; however, it is not specified in Torah that it must be specifically a tallit. It says that it should be "in/on the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue." The word על ‛al means, "above, over, upon, or against" and therefore I do not see why the fringes have to be permanently sewn into a special garment when it can be clipped onto the clothes we wear daily. The explanation makes sense though, that since it specifies a four-cournered garment that it should be literally on a four-cornered garment. However, is that because that is how garments were made them, or does it apply today since we have better technology in the textile/fashion industries? I know, I know we should do exactly what it says so perhaps we should stick with a special four cornered garment. This brings me to the next issue which is the blue thread. If we are to have a blue thread in the fringe then why do modern day practices have the blue on the tallit most of the time instead of the fringes? I perfer to have the blue thread among the strings themselves. Again that is my preference and would not create any kind of rift because I know it is not common and probably not acceptable to many people. There is deep spiritual significance to wearing tzitzit that has nothing to do with political matters and therefore please watch the below videos to learn more. When it comes down to it, women who wish to participate in mitzvot should do so in a way that is feminine so as to not try to dress like or be like men. We have a special mission as women just as men do as men. B"H! Here we are again with some new photos of tichel combinations. I still am struggling with being out and about sporting my tichels because of the way people react. Then I started thinking that if people can march down the street openly screaming about their sexual orientation or others who spike the Mohawk of various hues, well my tichels should not seem so odd. And yet they are perceived as very odd. Indeed in certain European countries it has been printed and stated that modesty like long skirts and scarves covering the hair are viewed as offensive! Offensive! What is happening to the values of our world when modesty is offensive and miniskirts and tasteless vanity is praised? Television commercials and sit-coms are practically pornography today and yet it's not offensive to popular culture. People think that religion has oppressed them and are now rebelling in any and every way possible. However, what people don't realize is that religion, when in balance, keeps society in check; not allowing us to become too much like animals and yet not too self-righteous.
I challenge liberals to consider if our society is getting better by denying G-d and denying a necessity for self control and purity? Without G-d what are we living for and what are we expecting after we've accomplished what we are living for? People are spiritually starving and it is showing its effects. People with no hope will not want to live anymore or will become depraved animals. I'm not saying we should have no fun or that we should all walk around in burkas. If you pay attention when a young woman walks around in the latest skimpy fashion apparel she is self-conscious and uncomfortable and it shows by her fidgeting. I grew up in an area that showed a lot of skin and was very liberal about everything. I witnessed what happens when people can literally do anything they want; they can take any drug, have any sexual experience, and just allow any hunger and desire to be fed. What happens is that unless self restraint is employed like a parachute this person becomes depraved and will not stop going deeper and deeper into depravity. Without boundaries people will behave much like children and only stop once money has run out, or they've crossed a line of either legality or physical danger. Sometimes people go insane or become so enslaved to a substance that they loose themselves and either die or have to dig their way out of deep, dark enclaves of their own multidemensional hell. Most people say that they can't help it; their parents are at fault or an experience in life made them this way. We are obligated as a society to not allow ourselves to become depraved; give support to the struggling souls who may or may not realize they need help. This is why although people think I'm very odd for wearing a tichel and tzitzit publicly, I do it for them. I do it for our society that we can remember that there is more to life than just our paychecks, televisions, and technology. B"H! |